Thursday, October 31, 2013

There is No Condemnation Whatsoever

"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set youa free from the law of sin and death. 3For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh,b God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering.c And so he condemned sin in the flesh." (Romans 8: 1-3, NIV)

This passage has brought more blessings than I would have ever imagined.

The upsets in my life, the fears, the resentments, the tumults of every type and stripe have nothing to do with me.

They are not me at all, since they are all works of the flesh, and I am called to walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16).

Now, some might say that we are called to do something about the fears, tremors, and upsets in our lives.

Remember, we are called to a new life in Christ, through His Holy Spirit, not to strive in our efforts, in ourselves:

"Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts." (Galatians 5: 19-24)

Because everyone of us who believes on Jesus Christ have been taken from dead in our trespasses to alive and seated in heavenly places in Christ (Ephesians 2: 4-8), we can rest assured that our flesh has been crucified, that we need no longer respond to the threats and upsets of our flesh.

We do not have to see counselors or psychiatrists every time we lose our temper or get angry or afraid about anything. We do not have to hold other people responsible for our hurt feelings, because any sense of unrest merely allows more of God's grace to pour into our lives.

There is no condemnation, no debt when we rest in Christ Jesus, who has paid for our sins, and through Him we can freely receive all things.

In fact, because we still walk around in these bodies, which still has sin, we do not have to feel build when sinful thoughts and emotions rise to the forefront.

Paul invites every believer to reckon themselves "dead to sin" and alive in righteousness:

"And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness." (Romans 8: 10)

The righteousness that we are in Christ (2 Corinthians 5: 21) grants us life, and that more abundantly (John 10: 10) his life through Jesus, because He is our life (Colossians 3: 1-4)

I spent so much time trying to fight back or surpress any feelings of shame or reproach.

Now I know that I am dead to all sin in my flesh, and I can trust that my Daddy God is taking care of every need according to His riches in glory (Philippians 4: 19)


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